The Greenline is not just a project; it’s a pressing need for the citizens of Calgary and Alberta.
In a time when many Calgarians are struggling to find work, it will create 20,000 jobs. 30,000 Calgarians will use it every day, reducing traffic and pollution and connecting Calgarians.
As the Calgary Alliance, and on behalf of our 28-member organization that represents over 35,000 Calgarians, we urgently call on our political leaders to find a solution to build the Greenline that serves the people of Calgary and does not waste the over $1.4 billion investment citizens have already made in this project.
We need a solution that makes sense for Calgarians. We are calling on our decision-makers to:
- Find a solution – that builds as much of the Greenline as possible using the funds that have been committed and work already done by all levels of government. This includes going as far south as possible and meaningfully serving downtown and the Beltline. The Greenline must also be built so that it can go North to meet the needs of citizens in North Central Calgary.
- Hold a public conversation – that involves both provincial and municipal levels of government and presents the options that are available and how they address the interests of citizens (including passengers, businesses, taxpayers, and workers) and address issues impacting the Green Line (including cost, engineering challenges, property values, current contracts/ procurement, timelines and creating quality transit for Calgarians.) This public forum should include times for public questions to be addressed. A decision about a solution on how to proceed should be made based on the issues outlined, on the best evidence available, and in the interests of citizens.
- Commit to developing a plan for the Greenline to serve North Central Calgary, the South Health Campus, the Beltline and Downtown. That means all levels of government will need to work together to find the funds needed to enact this plan.
- Ensure that municipal and provincial oversight of this project is ongoing so that issues are addressed as they arise. The governance of this project needs to be as transparent as possible so that citizens can ensure that it is being done in their best interests.
The Greenline is too important to the people of Calgary to have it fail due to petty politics. This is a project that Calgarians will use for over a century. Calgarians need an evidence-based solution that uses our money wisely and prioritizes the people who need this transportation solution. In short, we need our political leaders to be honest servants of the common good.
Rev. Ryan Andersen,
Lead Organizer of the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
